Brake for trucks



Z. Z. DUNCAN.

BHIKEA FOR TRUCKS..

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19.19

8' Patented Feb. 3,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Jan lill" Z. Z. DUNCAN.

BRAKEv Foe TRUCKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9. i918..

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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iUNiTEi) sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ZEONA ZEXTER DUNCAN, 0F STANBERRY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0-vDANA AMOS WOODS, OF. STANBERRY, MISSOUBJI.

BRAKE Fon TRUCKS.

Be it known that I, ZEoNi/i Z. DUNCAN, -a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Stanberr in the county of Gently and State ofMissouri, have invented anew and useful Brake for Trucks, of which thefollowing is a specification. Y Y

The present invention relates to wagon brakes, and particularly to abrake adapted for application to four wheeled trucks used in the shorthauling of baggage and the like, such as are employed bybaggage,.express andother transportation companies.

The object of the present invention is to provide a brake! for truckswhich is adapted to normally maintain the front wheels locked when thetruck is not in use, and to automatically release the wheels wheny thetruck is in use; and which is automatically controlled by the movementsof the tongue inraising thesame out of the'way dropping` the tongue onVthe ground, or turning the tongue beneath the truck to lock front wheelswhen thetruckis not in use, and in swinging the` tongue into a positionpractically level with the front axle to release the wheels when it isdesired to haul or otherwise manipulate the truck.

Briefly stated, this invention embodies brake for a hand truck whichnormallyy applies the brake when the tongue is in any position exceptthat in Vwhich it draws,

pushes or turns the truck, and which when the tongue is in the latterposition releases the brake and vadmits the free turning of the wheels.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill be in part described, and'in` part understood, from the followingdetailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the samebeingv illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein; Y

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a truck having the improved brake ofthis invention appliedv thereto, the tongue being removed. Fig. 2 isavertical longitudinal section through the forward end thereof,'showingthe brake applied'. to the front wheels.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionV through Vthe truck between its'ends andlooking forward tothe brake as applied tothe front wheels.

- Fig; 4 is a fragmentary'enlarged view of spcification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 3, T920.

Application filed VFebruary 19, 1918. SerialNo. 218,107.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view ofthe operating lever employed.

Fig. 6 is a detail side; elevation of one of the tongue bracketsemployed.

, Referring to these drawings, A designates the body of a truck having afifth wheel B, a lower bolster C connectedV to the fifth wheel B, anaxle D and front steering road wheels Eon the ends of the axle.

Each wheel E has a brake drum 10`- on its inner side, and each drinn issurrounded by a brake band 11 held to the drum 10 by headed screws 12 orthe like. The bands 11 each have their ends connected to the oppositeextremities of a rocking arm 13, a link 14 being interposed in theconnection at one end of the arm. The arms 13 are'connected rigidly' attheir intermediate portions to the oppositeends of a transverse brakerod 15 which is journaled in spaced apart bearings or straps 16y mountedon the rear side of the bolster C.

A rocking lever 17 is fixed between its ends to an intermediate portionkof the rod 15, and'has itslower end bent rearward to form a guide orsupport 18. l

A pivot bracket 19 is mounted on the front side of the bolster C andpivotally supports an operating lever 20- connected betweenits endsthereto. The lever 20 has its lower end bent forward to form a nose 21.n

The upper ends of the' levers 17 and 20 are pivotally connected togetherby a pair ofl vlinks 22 extending across the upper edge of lthe bolsterC and spaced under the fifthwheel B.

Bracket arms' 23 are mounted on and extend forwardly from the axle Dnear the ends thereof. and also near the intermediate "portion of theaxle, and carry a transverse tongue rod 24:Y upon which is' pivotallylying in the path of the nose 21 ofthe oper-v ating` lever. Thfe 'cam 26has a flat rear side or face27 which frees the nose 21 when the tongueis extended in a horizontal plane t'o ward axle D,'such as shown inv`Fig,- 2.`

f Bracket arms 28 depend from' the forward ends of the intermediatebrackets 2.73 and carry' a transverse pin 29 to which theforr ward ends.oi springs. oiaren secured, the

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v ing` springs exten ding beneath the axle D and are connected to theends of a transverse pin 33 carried by a slide 31 on the guide orsupport '18 of the rocking lever 17. The springs are always undertension to urge the lower end of the lever 17V forward androck the arms13 in a direction. to bind the bands 11 about the drums 10.

The links 14 have turnbuckles 34 therein c and QOto be drawn backward bythesprings 30.V This movement of the levers rocks the arms 13 and causesthe brake bands 11 to grip 'around the drumslO. ,y

When the tongue 25 is raised the cam head rises over the nose anddepresses the same backward, and maintains the nose in this positionuntil the tongue 25 is `raised into a high position near the hook 322vWhen the tongue Vis in this latter raisedposition the cam head passesdown between the springs 30 and beneath the nose 21; admitting thesprings 30 to apply the brakes. Y

However, when the tongue 25 is in any one of its intermediate positions,such as is assumed whenv the truck is being drawn or pushed, the flatadvanced face 27 of the 4cam 26 ldepres'ses the nose 2 1 and swings thelevers 1,7 and 20, against the tension of the springs 30, into aposition to release the brake bands4 11 from the drums 10. y

The action of the brake is thus automatic, andcontrolled by the positionof the tongue 25 toapply the brake when the tougue is in a positionofrest, and to release the brake when the tongue is yused inmanipulating the truck.

Itwill be noted that the levers 17 and Q0, and all other parts of thisbrake are located beneath the fifth wheel Band do not interfere with thefree turning of the truck, andhold it in a position of rest when thefront axle isV in any angular position relatively to the longitudlnalaxis ofthe truck.v w It is'of course understood, that various changesand modifications may be'niade in the details of constructioniand designof the y above specifically describedfembodimentof this invention,without vdeparting from the spirit thereof, such changes andmodifications being restricted only by the scope* of the followingclaims. Y

Whatis claimed'is: v .Y

l'. 1nv a brake, the combination with ka truck having a bolsterandwheels support-` edat opposite ends of the bolster, of brake drumsmounted onthe wheels, fbandsfsur-v rounding the drums, a brake rodjournaled f on the bolster and provided on opposite endsy with rockerarms pivot'ally connected tothe bands, a rocking lever mounted on thebrake rod, springs mounted on the bolster and havthereby, and a tonguepivotally mounted on the axle and having a cam head with a. flat Y falceat its inner end adapted to clear thel operating leveil when the tongueis in a position of rest and adapted ,to depress-it when the tongue isin operative position for releasing the bands on the drums against the'ktensionof said spring. j v

2. In a brake, the combination with ay truck having a bolster and wheelssupported at opposite ends of thebolsterfof brake drums mounted onthefwheelsybands surrounding said;drums,a brake rodjournaled at the rearof the bolster and provided at opposite ends with `rocker arms pivotallyconnected jto the bands, va rocking lever mounted on the brake Vrod andextending to the rear'of` said bolster, yieldable means whereby saidrocking lever may be urged to swing in one direction for binding thebands about the drums, an opera ting lever pivot-ed Y upon thev Ibolsterandy arranged forwardly thereof, -means rigidly connecting saidoperating lever with the rocking lever,l a vtongue on the truck, andmeanscontrolled by said tongue for swinging said operating Y leverandconsequentlyv turning said rock-` .ing lever in a directionto releasethe brake bands when the tongue is inv an operative position for drawingthe truck,'b'ut adapted torelease the operating and connected rockinglevers Vto the Vaction of said yieldable means when the tongue isV inlaninoperative position whereby the brakebands vmay be tightened on saiddrums. u u 3. In a brake, the, combination witha truck having a'bols'terand wheels supported at opposite ends of thebolster, of brake means, abrake rod fsupported 'from said bolster and having' connection -tovoperate said brake means, a rocking lever fast on saidrod andextendingin rear of the bolster` an operating leverwv journaledwforwardof said bolster, rigid means 'connecting .saidV operating y and rocking.levers, Y, yieldable means whereby lthe levers may be swung in onedirection to cause'the rocking of saidV brake rod andthe application ofthe brake means, a tongue lon the truck, yandmeans controlled by thetongue` for actuating said operatingjlever when the tongue is anoperative `position vto draw thev truckVV whereby n the levers maybeswungfin opposition to sadyieldable means to release saidbrakd means,Vbut' adapted to disengage said operatingv lever kWhen the tongue is`moved to an inoperative position whereby the yieldable ineans may Causethe brake Ineans'to be applied.

bands, a spring normally urging 'said levers ,y

in yone direction for tightening the YVbands, a connection between thelevers,Y and a tongue on the truck having a earn on its inner endadapted when the tongue is in op- Y erative position to engage the otherlever for moving the levers `against the tensionof the spring toyrelease thebrake bands, andA adapted Whenin inoperative position to freethev levers for application of the brake under ythe tension of saidspring.l

HZEoNA ZEXTR DUNCAN. Y

